Divorced from Prince Andrew in 1996, the Duchess remains close to the Queen's son, but was excluded from the Christmas festivities at Sandringham.

The Duchess stayed at a luxury seven-bedroom, £17,000-a-week chalet in ski resort Verbier for the holidays, where she was accompanied by a TV crew filming the experience for a documentary to be screened in America in 2014.

"Beatrice and Eugenie always go and spend the holidays with their grandmother because I love Her Majesty so much," explained Ferguson.

"I think it's very important she has the best gift I can give her, which is my children."

Princesses Beatrice, 25, and Eugenie, 23, are expected to join their mother for New Year at the luxury resort.